Tasting Notes

Aromas of ripe cherries, red fruits and blood orange intermingle with subtle vanilla and butterscotch notes. The palate is supple, rich and layered with vivid flavors of black cherry, dusty blueberry and raspberry. Silky and elegant, the balance of tannin, acidity and intense fruit truly captures the beauty of Pinot Noir.

Vineyard

Riverview Vineyard is our northernmost estate in Monterey County. Located two miles southeast of Soledad and adjacent to the Pinnacles, this 215-acre vineyard is situated high on a bench overlooking the Salinas River. The micro-climate is noted for its moderate conditions and cold afternoon winds, ideal for cool-climate varietals such as Pinot Noir. Evening coastal fogs in the spring and summer often linger until mid-morning the following day. This natural cooling effect slows photosynthesis and causes a unique lengthening of the growing season.

2015 Growing Season

The 2015 growing season provided ideal climatic conditions and ultra-premium quality. The spring months were temperate and uneventful, with no significant frost threats and ideal temperatures. Cool nights and overcast mornings followed by breezy afternoons made the summer months perfect for even ripening and good flavor development. Excellent harvest-time conditions and sunny weather through September allowed us to let the grapes hang until optimal ripeness was achieved.

Winery

The grapes were picked by hand at optimum ripeness in the early morning hours of September 25, 2015. The juice was fermented in small lots in open-top fermenters using a punch-down regimen of three times per day to gently extract color and tannins. After fermentation, the must was gently pressed into a stainless steel tank for settling, then racked to 100% French oak barrels (60% new) for 20 months before bottling.